Hi! My name is Donna Cruz-Larrazabal. I am happy and proud to claim that I am now a certified Marathon Mom!

Before I started running, I preferred sitting around indoors versus being outside under the sun. I was such a couch potato. You can just imagine how difficult it was to understand the joy my husband was getting from this activity called running. Totally boring! I have been trying to understand since the Yong started joining fun runs and races in late 2006 why he was super into it. My main goal was to discourage him! My story as a runner began in October of 2008. I was getting bored with my usual diet eating the same food (camote, potatoes and carrots) everyday. I felt I needed to be healthy and strong not just for myself but especially for my husband and kids. I was beginning to understand Yong’s joy in running and if I could not stop him, I guess it was time to join him. And thus, my running career was born!

I began by brisk walking and then running short distances everyday until I could eventually complete a 5k run around our house and finish it in about an hour. A week after I started running, Yong signed me up for the Pink October Run 5K distance which was stated on October 19, 2008. I finished my first 5K run in 45 minutes.

My love and passion for running really started that day after crossing the finish line. It was then I realized I had the heart for running after all.

This was just the beginning as I progressed on the road to my full marathons. My first being the MACAU GALAXY INTERNATIONAL MARATHON last December 6, 2009 in Macau, China. It was a wonderful feeling to look around to be part of an international group of runners. It felt like we were there to represent the Philippines, finish the race and make your country proud! There were were only 3 registrants— Yong, Harthy and myself.

As for my active lifestyle I prefer eating Nature Valley^TM granola bar. It is a great snack back before and after running. Yong and I love Nature Valley^TM granola bar. Nature Valley^TM; granola bars are an excellent way to replenish energy stores that are depleted during running. Nature Valley^TM is 100% NATURAL with no artificial colors, artificial flavors, preservatives and trans fat so you can enjoy its natural goodness and delicious taste!

To those who feel and think that running is boring, try joining fun runs or races, the feeling of crossing the finish line is indescribable! Runner’ s high talaga! It is what make running so addicting! You’d want to join more races after it and do better each time! You start looking forward to training because you now have a goal-to get a PR (personal record)!

Now, I am looking forward to more races to run. I would like to invite everyone to join the NATURE VALLEY^TM RUN 2010 on May 30, 2010 at Bonifacio Global City. This is a special run as one runner=one tree. This run can really make a difference. See you there!